Nick Daicos facing nervous grand final wait as GWS coach fumes over tackle

Nick Daicos could be facing a nervous wait after an unfortunate tackle on Brent Daniels saw the Giants player forced from the field for a concussion test late into the fourth quarter. GWS coach Adam Kingsley was left frustrated when he was without his small forward for a few moments, despite a delay in pulling him off for the concussions test.

Daniels had his arms pinned as his head went crashing into the ground from a Daicos tackle. The 24-year-old remained on the field after the tackle but was pulled to the bench with about six minutes to go for a head injury assessment.

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Players are required to remain off the ground for at least 15 minutes even if they pass the HIA. Kingsley was perplexed by why Daniels needed to come to the bench up to 10 minutes after being tackled by Daicos.

"I'm really disappointed to lose Brent Daniels for a HIA, that he passed comfortably in the last (six) minutes of the game, which hurt us around the ball with a bit of leg speed, a bit of overlap run, so that's extremely disappointing," the Giants coach said. "I haven't seen the incident but from what I'm led to believe it didn't warrant having to take him off the field to assess him."

However, it appears the Giants doctor opted to take Daniels off after Jesse Hogan's goal, which was also overseen by the AFL's doctor. This process ruled Daniels out for the remainder of the game in the fourth quarter.

There appeared no malice involved in the tackle, but Daicos could face a nervous wait. AFL great Luke Hodge said on SEN Radio the young Collingwood ace will be fine. "Daicos should have noting to worry about," Hodge said.

Although the AFL world was divided on the issue with many unsure on whether Daicos could miss the grand final due to a one week suspension.

Daicos was also involved in another moment, which went unpunished, when he appeared to collect Toby Greene high. The moment in the third quarter prompted anger from GWS fans with the match hanging in the balance.

I thought there was a bit of adversity that we had to overcome to compete," Kingsley said. "I just reiterated how proud I was of their fight, their ability to hang in there.

"We're off the back of a six-day break, travelling back from Port Adelaide, it felt like we were slow out of the blocks against Collingwood but then we were able to fight back and get our noses in front. I couldn't be prouder of the way that they carried themselves."

Nick Daicos in classy post-match act

While the 20-year-old was involved in a number of controversial moments for Collingwood, he also showed his class after the siren. Greene had given the preliminary final his all and was devastated having fallen to his knees after the siren having scored two goals, but unable to help his team across the line.

And Daicos went straight up to his rival and put his arm around him in a moment broadcast to the AFL world. Fans from both teams were complimentary of the 20-year-old whose first act was to congratulate his rivals for the contest.

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